Pundit causes controversy with his North London XI picks | OneFootball

On Wednesday evening, Spurs will play away to Arsenal in the North London derby. Although they have lost the previous two meetings, they did draw 2-2 in this fixture last season, as they hope to go one better this time.

The game will be shown live on TNT Sports, for those in the UK unable to attend the game. One of the channel's commentators, Ally McCoist, was asked to choose between eleven Arsenal players, and eleven Spurs players, to make up the 'combined XI'. Safe to say his answers have not gone down too well.

Ally McCoist causes controversy with his combined team

In order from goalkeeper to left winger, he was asked: "[Daivd] Raya or Vicario?" "Raya."[Ben] White or Porro?" "White." "[William] Saliba or Romero?" "Saliba." "Gabriel or van de Ven? "van de Ven." "[Jurrien] Timber or Udogie?" "Timber." "[Declan] Rice or Bissouma? "Rice." "[Mikel] Merino or Sarr? "Merino." "[Martin] Odegaard or Maddison? "Odegaard." "[Bukayo] Saka or Kulusevski? "Saka." "[Kai] Havertz or Solanke? "Havertz." "[Gabriel] Martinelli or Son? "Son."

So, his combined XI reads as; Raya; White, Saliba, van de Ven, Timber; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Son. Even before we get into some of the crazy shouts, what is the point of including injured players in the question such as Vicario, White, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie and Saka. Furthermore, why include three of those players as your answers.

All bias aside - some Arsenal players will get in. However, Havertz over Solanke is a crazy shout. He is a big reason why Arsenal are (effectively) out of two domestic cups in the space of a few days. Merino over Sarr is a terrible shout, too. That one felt a bit random.

Given he went with van de Ven over Gabriel - not to say he should or should not have, but definitely one of the more understandable picks had he gone with Gabriel - it is really bizarre that he would go with Havertz over Solanke, and Merino over Sarr. Even if you didn't want Sarr in there, surely just put Kulusevski in midfield, you know - the part of the pitch he has played most of his football this season.

Usually try not to get involved in such daft discourse as combined XI's, but broken that here. Should have made it a new year's resolution not to really. Nevertheless, let's hope Spurs make him look extremely stupid come 10pm on Thursday evening.